BlackRock Health Sciences Trust
100 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809


 
June 7, 2016


VIA EDGAR
John Grzeskiewicz
Division of Investment Management
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street N.E.
Washington, DC 20549

 
RE:
  
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust
     
File Nos. 333-210770 & 811-21702

Dear Mr. Grzeskiewicz:

Pursuant to Rule 461 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, BlackRock Health Science Trust (the “Registrant”) hereby requests that the effec­tiveness of the above-referenced Registra­tion Statement on Form N-2 be accelerated so that it may become effective by 4:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, or as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable.

In connection with this request, the Registrant acknowledges that:

 
(a)
should the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) or its staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the above-referenced Registration Statement effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to such Registration Statement;

 
(b)
the action of the Commission or its staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority in declaring the above-referenced Registration Statement effective, does not relieve the Registrant from its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure contained in such Registration Statement; and

 
(c)
the Registrant may not assert this action as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.

 
 
 

 
 
Very truly yours,
   
 
BLACKROCK HEALTH SCIENCES TRUST
       
       
 
By:
   /s/ Janey Ahn
 
     
Name:  Janey Ahn
     
Title:    Secretary